Iris Davies (1935 – 2010), pen name Iris Gower, was a novelist, noted for her many historical romances, most of which are set in the seaport of Swansea and the adjacent Gower Peninsula, from which she took her pseudonym. She worked as a nursery teacher, took other part-time jobs and began writing in her twenties. Her first novel, Tudor Tapestry, was published in 1974, but it was the success of her novel, Copper Kingdom (1983) that put her on world’s bestseller lists. It was one of many of her novels set in the copper, pottery and other industries of Swansea or in the rural life of Gower. Altogether she wrote about 40 published books, including 26 novels. She was always interested in fostering the work of other writers, became a patron of the Year of Literature in Swansea, and at the Swansea Writers’ Circle welcomed and encouraged the novelist Catrin Collier.
Books
- Burn Bright Shadow (1975)
- The Copper Cloud (1976)
- Return to Tip Row (1977)
- Beloved Captive (1981)
- Copper Kingdom (1983)
- Proud Mary (1984)
- Spinners’ Wharf (1985)
- Morgan’s Woman (1986)
- Fiddler’s Ferry (1987)
- The Loves of Catrin (1987)
- Black Gold (1988)
- Beloved Traitor (1981)
- Beloved Rebel (1981)
- The Sins of Eden (1990)
- The Shoemaker’s Daughter (1991)
- The Oyster Catchers (1992)
- Honey’s Farm (1993)
- Arian (1994)
- Sea Mistress (1995)
- The Wild Seed (1996)
- Firebird (1997)
- Emerald (1998)
- Dream Catcher (1998)
- Destiny’s Child (1998)
- Sea Witch (1998)
- A Royal Ambition (1999)
- Sweet Rosie (1999)
- Daughters of Rebecca (2000)
- Heart on Fire (2000)
- When Night Closes In (2000)
- Heart in Ice (2000)
- Kingdom’s Dream (2001)
- Heart of Stone (2001)
- Paradise Park (2002)
- The Rowan Tree (2003)
- Halfpenny Field (2004)
- The Other Woman (2005)
- Act of Love (2006)
- Bargain Bride (2007)